Terri S. Armstrong, Ph.D., ANP-BC, FAAN, FAANP

Dr. Armstrong’s Patient Outcomes Research Program is comprised of transdisciplinary research staff and trainees, including research fellows, postdoctoral fellows, pos-baccalaureate fellows, and research associates. Her team brings a translational research approach representing various aspects of patient outcomes research to the Neuro-Oncology Branch (NOB) through preclinical, observational, and interventional studies. Previous studies have shed light on the heavy symptom burden experienced by patients with central nervous system (CNS) tumors, which can lead to functional limitations with significant societal, social, emotional, and financial impacts on their lives.

The first set of studies within Dr. Armstrong’s research program focuses on improving understanding of natural history and outcomes by enrolling every patient that consults with the Branch into the NOB's Natural History Study. Results from this study allow the tracking of each patient’s disease trajectory, and record longitudinal clinician-assessed and self-reported data on symptoms and functions. A standardized collection of patient-reported outcomes is also included in every clinical trial within the NOB, ensuring that the patient-perceived clinical benefit of all therapeutic trials can be measured. Finally, this project also includes the integration of strategic interventions in the form of wearable technologies, mobile application development, and the use of technology to deliver interventions to combat issues—such as scan anxiety or sleep distress—and aid self-management of symptoms.

The second broad project within Dr. Armstrong’s research program explores the identification of clinical and genomic predictors of toxicity. Her previous studies have shown that single-nucleotide polymorphisms can be associated with risk of certain therapeutic-related toxicities occurring with temozolomide use or hypersomnia caused by radiation therapy. Development of mouse models to recapitulate radiation-induced hypersomnia to elucidate their biologic correlates and study circadian rhythms is an additional aim of this work that may eventually improve outcomes in patients. To further this second project, Dr. Armstrong co-leads the NCI-CONNECT (Comprehensive Oncology Network Evaluating Rare CNS Tumors) program with Dr. Mark Gilbert, which aims to advance the understanding of 12 rare adult CNS cancers by establishing and fostering patient-advocacy-provider partnerships and networks to improve approaches to care and treatment. A goal of NCI-CONNECT is to identify clinical and genomic factors associated with the risk of developing toxicities in patients.

Dr. Armstrong’s research program seeks to gain a better understanding of how a patient feels and functions through their disease trajectory. This work can have a significant impact on patients with CNS tumors and their caregivers, affects how a clinician times therapeutic intervention for maximal benefit, and has the potential to improve long-term care for this subset of patients.

Dr. Armstrong obtained a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Akron in Ohio, a Master of Science in oncology from Ohio State University, a Postmaster’s Nurse Practitioner Certificate, and was soon after introduced to the field of neuro-oncology. Realizing that her passion lay in understanding disease burden for patients and their caregivers, she became an instructor and adjunct faculty member at Emory University, where her experience drove her to later pursue a Ph.D. and eventually lead an independent research program. Dr. Armstrong remained an advanced practice nurse and adjunct faculty member at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) while working on her advanced degree. Upon completion, she joined the faculty at The University of Texas Health Science Center while maintaining an adjunct position at MDACC as an associated professor. She was awarded the John S. Dunn Distinguished Professorship in Oncology Nursing in 2012, followed by tenure. In 2016, she joined the Neuro-Oncology Branch (NOB) as a tenured senior investigator and head of the Patient Outcomes Program, and later became the NOB’s deputy branch chief in 2018. She is also licensed to practice as a clinician in Maryland.

In addition to her deputy chief role at the NOB, Dr. Armstrong has served on several NIH and professional committees, including the past vice president of the Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO). She has also held multiple positions on SNO’s board of directors, in addition to being an elected member and chair of the NCI’s Center for Cancer Research Women Scientist Advisors. She is currently the executive editor for Neuro-Oncology Practice and former associate editor for several other journals, such as Neuro-Oncology. Her work is highlighted by an impressive track record of awarded grants—including grants from the CERN (Collaborative Ependymoma Research Network) Foundation, the National Institute of Nursing Research R01-funded grant, and a Beau Biden Cancer Moonshot grant received in 2017 that provided the funding for the NCI-CONNECT (Comprehensive Oncology Networks Evaluation Rare CNS Tumors) program.

Honors, Awards and Leadership

• NCI Director’s Champion Award - 2022
• NCI Director’s Award - 2020, 2021
• NCI Director’s Emerging Leader Award - 2020
• Distinguished Alumni, University of Texas Health Science Center - 2018
• Dean’s Mentoring Award, University of Texas Health School of Nursing - 2015
• Inducted Fellow, American Academy of Nursing - 2013
• John S. Dunn Distinguished Professorship in Oncology Nursing, University of Texas Health School of Nursing - 2012
• Inducted Fellow, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners - 2009
• Outstanding Researcher of the Year, Sigma Theta Tau - 2008
• Doctoral Student Writing Award, University of Texas Health School of Nursing - 2006
• Patient Educator of the Year, MD Anderson Cancer Center - 2005
• Educator of the Month, MD Anderson Cancer Center - 2005
• Leadership Award in Education, MD Anderson Cancer Center - 2001
• Quality of Life Lectureship, Oncology Nursing Society - 1998
• Phi Kappa Phi Scholastic Honor, Ohio State University - 1991

Select Societies and Initiatives

• Chair, NCI Center for Cancer Research (CCR) Clinical Trial Diversity Committee - 2021-present
• NCI Center for Cancer Research (CCR) Women Scientist Advisory Committee - 2018-present
• Collaborative Ependymoma Research (CERN) Foundation Board Member - 2015-present
• NCI Equity and Inclusion Committee - 2021-2023
• NCI Center for Cancer Research (CCR) Scientific Advisory Board - 2021-2023
• Society for Neuro-Oncology: Annual Awards Committee (2007-2015), Board of Directors (2008-2011), Vice President (2015-2017), Health Policy Committee Chair (2015-2018), Guidelines Committee (2016-present), Wellness Committee Co-Chair (2018-2020)
• Patient Reported Outcomes Committee, NRG, NCI - 2014-2019
• Head for the Cure Board of Directors - 2012-2016
• American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), PLWC Advisory Panel - 2006-2017
• Alliance Oncology Research Group: Health Disparities (2013-present), Neuro-Oncology Working Group (2013-present), CCDR Representative for Neuro-Oncology (2013-present)